Open Access

There is a lack of fast and inexpensive analytical methods for quantification of key ingredients in dietary supplements. Here we explore the potential of near infrared (NIR) spectrometry, attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectrometry and potentiometric multisensor system (MSS) in quantitative determination of glucosamine and hyaluronic acid in commercial samples of dietary supplements. All three methods have demonstrated their applicability for this task when combined with chemometric data processing. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed similarities across the three techniques, indicating the presence of distinct sample compositions. Partial least squares (PLS) models were constructed for glucosamine and hyaluronic acid quantification. The root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) for glucosamine quantification varied between 7.7 wt% and 8.9 wt%. NIR spectrometry has demonstrated the best accuracy for hyaluronic acid (RMSECV = 9.9 wt%), while ATR-IR and MSS yielded somewhat worse performance with RMSECV values of 12.1 and 11.3 wt%, respectively. The findings of this study indicated that NIR, ATR-IR and MSS exhibit reduced accuracy in comparison to complex and high-precision analytical techniques. However, they can be employed for the rapid, semi-quantitative evaluation of glucosamine and hyaluronic acid in dietary supplements, with the possibility of integration into routine quality control procedures.

Self metathesis of oleochemicals offers a variety of bifunctional compounds, that can be used as monomer for polymer production. Many precursors are in huge scales available, like oleic acid ester (biodiesel), oleyl alcohol (tensides), oleyl amines (tensides, lubricants). We show several ways to produce and separate and purify C18-α,ω-bifunctional compounds, using Grubbs 2nd Generation catalysts, starting from technical grade educts.

Die Bereitstellung von nachhaltig erzeugtem Wasserstoff als Energieträger und Rohstoff ist eine wichtige Schlüsseltechnologie sowohl als Ersatz für fossile Energieträger, aber auch als Produkt im Zusammenhang mit Kreislaufprozessen. In der Abwasserbehandlung bestehen verschiedene Möglichkeiten Wasserstoff herzustellen. Mehrere Wege, mögliche Synergien, aber auch deren Nachteile werden vorgestellt.

Throughout the last decade, and particularly in 2022, water scarcity has become a critical concern in Morocco and other Mediterranean countries. The lack of rainfall during spring was worsened by a succession of heat waves during the summer. To address this drought, innovative solutions, including the use of new technologies such as hydrogels, will be essential to transform agriculture. This paper presents the findings of a study that evaluated the impact of hydrogel application on onion (Allium cepa) cultivation in Meknes, Morocco. The treatments investigated in this study comprised two different types of hydrogel-based soil additives (Arbovit® polyacrylate and Huminsorb® polyacrylate), applied at two rates (30 and 20 kg/ha), and irrigated at two levels of water supply (100% and 50% of daily crop evapotranspiration; ETc). Two control treatments were included, without hydrogel application and with both water amounts. The experiment was conducted in an open field using a completely randomized design. The results indicated a significant impact of both hydrogel-type dose and water dose on onion plant growth, as evidenced by various vegetation parameters. Among the hydrogels tested, Huminsorb® Polyacrylate produced the most favorable outcomes, with treatment T9 (100%, HP, 30 kg/ha) yielding 70.55 t/ha; this represented an increase of 11 t/ha as compared to the 100% ETc treatment without hydrogel application. Moreover, the combination of hydrogel application with 50% ETc water stress showed promising results, with treatment T4 (HP, 30 kg, 50%) producing almost the same yield as the 100% ETc treatment without hydrogel while saving 208 mm of water.

Nacre-mimetic nanocomposites based on high fractions of synthetic high-aspect-ratio nanoclays in combination with polymers are continuously pushing boundaries for advanced material properties, such as high barrier against oxygen, extraordinary mechanical behavior, fire shielding, and glass-like transparency. Additionally, they provide interesting model systems to study polymers under nanoconfinement due to the well-defined layered nanocomposite arrangement. Although the general behavior in terms of forming such layered nanocomposite materials using evaporative self-assembly and controlling the nanoclay gallery spacing by the nanoclay/polymer ratio is understood, some combinations of polymer matrices and nanoclay reinforcement do not comply with the established models. Here, we demonstrate a thorough characterization and analysis of such an unusual polymer/nanoclay pair that falls outside of the general behavior. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium fluorohectorite form nacre-mimetic, lamellar nanocomposites that are completely transparent and show high mechanical stiffness and high gas barrier, but there is only limited expansion of the nanoclay gallery spacing when adding increasing amounts of polymer. This behavior is maintained for molecular weights of PEO varied over four orders of magnitude and can be traced back to depletion forces. By careful investigation via X-ray diffraction and proton low-resolution solid-state NMR, we are able to quantify the amount of mobile and immobilized polymer species in between the nanoclay galleries and around proposed tactoid stacks embedded in a PEO matrix. We further elucidate the unusual confined polymer dynamics, indicating a relevant role of specific surface interactions.